Attorney and Charleston City Clerk JB Akers ended months of speculation Monday and officially announced his run for mayor of West Virginia's capital city.
Akers, a Republican, made his announcement at the Second Avenue Neighborhood Center, on Charleston's West Side, in front of dozens of people. This is his first time running for office.
Akers has been city clerk since August 2015. He also owns the Akers Law Offices, and practices personal injury, discrimination and consumer protection law. He is a West Virginia University College of Law graduate.
His wife, Maryclaire Akers, is an assistant prosecutor for Kanawha County. They have three children.
Akers said his children were a major motivator for him entering the race. He said he hopes they will have the option to stay and raise their own families in the Kanawha Valley.
"It's vitally important to me that this city get better and improve," Akers said. "We have a solid foundation, but we also have some challenges."
One of those challenges, he said, is bringing more jobs to the city and diversifying the regional economy.
He cited Union Carbide's former South Charleston plant as an example of a business that employed many Charleston residents.
"If we can help the regional economy somehow, if Charleston can be part of that equation, then I think that raises our ship, as well," he said.
Another issue Akers cited in his announcement was "criminal tourism," a term he used to describe transients who commit crimes while benefiting from city-funded social services.
"They're taking advantage of us by eating food during the day while going out and committing crimes at night," Akers said.
He said he wants to help homeless residents and others who are struggling but doesn't want the city to be taken advantage of.
One issue that didn't make the announcement was Akers' desire to reduce the size of the City Council by at least a third. In a Facebook post, he said the reason he wants to shrink the council is to put more money toward demolishing abandoned buildings throughout the city.
"This is not an anti-Council initiative," he said in the post. "Rather, I believe this will save a significant amount of money, money that I will propose using to rid us of abandoned homes."
Akers' announcement comes after several months of him pondering a run. Charleston Mayor Danny Jones endorsed Akers in November on his Facebook page. At that time, Akers said he was considering a run, but declined to make any announcements.
Akers said he had no idea that Jones was going to endorse him, but welcomes Jones' insight.
"We're not the same guy," Akers said. "I really respect him and I think he's a fantastic mayor, but we have a different view on some things."
He declined to elaborate on those differences.
Akers is the only Republican in the race for mayor.
Amy Shuler Goodwin, former West Virginia Division of Tourism commissioner, and Andy Richardson, an at-large Charleston City Council member, will face off in the Democratic primary in May.
Andy Backus, a political newcomer, also has announced his run for mayor, as an independent.
Reach Ali Schmitz at ali.schmitz@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @SchmitzMedia on Twitter.